Conference League results Ajax lose, Mohamed Salah's club wins over KuPS

The first matchday of the 2026/27 Conference League presented a number of interesting results.

Ajax Amsterdam, featuring Indonesian national team goalkeeper Maarten Paes, started the season with a 2-1 defeat to Hajduk Split. Mohamed Salah scored in Trabzonspor's 4-2 victory over Finnish club KuPS.

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Paes himself only watched the Ajax match from the bench, with the goalkeeper position filled by Marc Andre Ter-Stagen.

Visiting Hajduk Split, Ajax were forced to concede the hosts' superiority. Abdoulie Sanyang put Hajduk Split ahead in the 37th minute.

Ajax only managed to equalize in the second half through Davy Klaassen's goal in the 53rd minute. However, the lead lasted only two minutes as Marin Soticek scored the winner for Hajduk Split in the 55th minute.

Meanwhile, Trabzonspor secured a victory away to KuPS. Paul Onuachu opened the scoring for the visitors in the third minute, before Mohamed Salah doubled the score in the 44th minute.

Trabzonspor pulled further ahead after Franculino Dju scored in the 47th minute. KuPS briefly reduced the deficit through Petteri Pennanen in the 54th minute, but Franculino got on the scoresheet again in the 90+1 minute.